Nursery

The Nursery at St Chris – which we call the Monte because of its Montessori origins – although we no longer follow the Montessori approach, accepts children from the start of the term that they turn three. The Monte is a special place where children grow in confidence, develop a love of learning, show their care for themselves and each other, make friendships that continue on into school, and have huge amounts of fun!

Children start to learn about the world around them from the moment they are born. The care and education offered by the staff in the Nursery helps children to continue to do this by providing opportunities and activities that are appropriate to each child’s age and stage of development.

The Nursery is divided in to two year groups: Half Monte (from the start of the term that a child turns 3) and Top Monte (aged 3-4).

The Nursery is located in the main Junior School building in a dedicated  area that includes outdoor and indoor learning environments, and access to the main school facilities including a library, music room, indoor swimming pool, PE and Games facilities and a Forest School.

We operate a minimum session policy, four for Half Monte children and six for Top Monte.

Doors open from 8:00am to welcome the children, with the day starting at 8.30am, the morning session includes a hot lunch. The range of sessions available are detailed below.  Sessions are booked in advance each half term.

We offer four different nursery sessions:

  • Morning Session (8.30am – 12:30pm)
  • Afternoon Session (12.30pm – 4.30pm)
  • School Day Session (8.30am – 3:20pm)
  • Whole Day Session (8.30am – 4.30pm)

St Chris offers Wraparound Care to support parents’ working hours which runs from 7.30am to 6.30pm, five days a week in the main school during term time. Please click here for more information about Wraparound Care, including details on how to book.

We welcome you to come and look around the Nursery on a normal working day. Please click here to book a visit.

Nursery Curriculum

In the Nursery and, continuing on in Reception, our approach to learning is based on the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. Our independence enables us to dovetail the EYFS with a range of highly effective approaches to early years education.  Our practice is influenced by many early years pioneers, and includes the principles of Vygotsky (adult and child interactions), The McMillian sisters (outside learning and health) and Frobel (free flow play).

Within the Nursery, we have an overarching curriculum approach, which gives us the freedom to develop topics based on the children’s interest and ideas. Children have free access throughout the day to both inside and outside learning areas and learn mostly through child-initiated activities with a smaller proportion of adult-led activities.

The areas of learning comprise:

  • Prime areas
    • Personal, social and emotional (PSE)
    • Physical development
    • Communication and language
  • Specific Areas
    • Literacy
    • Mathematics
    • Understanding the world
    • Expressive art and design

The children are taught mostly by the Nursery team – see below – and have enhanced lessons taught by specialist teachers for music, Forest School, PE and swimming lessons.

Planning and Observing

We use Tapestry as an online learning journal to observe and record your child’s progression during their time in the Nursery. Each child is observed individually and in an on-going way, enabling us to make informed decisions about how best to support their learning. It also helps us track them against the EYFS framework, enabling us to ensure that their developmental progression is supported.

You will be invited to two parents’ evenings a year and you will also receive two school reports throughout the year. The Nursery staff are also available to speak to at drop off and pick up, and can be contacted for an appointment at any point during the year.

A Typical Day in the Nursery

8.30am

Start of the school day.

Children can be dropped off at the Junior School from 8.00am.

8.30 to 11.30am Lessons Start
11.30 Lunch in the Nursery
12.30pm

Nursery morning session ends

Nursery afternoon session begins

3.00pm Snack
3.20pm

End of school day

Children can stay until 4.30pm.

4.30pm

End of whole day

Children can go to After School Care (until 6.30pm).

Nursery Staff

portrait

Chrissie Parry

Position:
Nursery Teacher
Qualifications:
BA (Hons)

Sandra Ingles-Monroig

portrait

Jo Clarke

Position:
Early Years Practitioner
Qualifications:
CACHE Level 3